Anna Palladino Participates in Foreign Correspondents’ Scholarship Programme in Finland

This August, I represented the United States during the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland’s 18th Annual Foreign Correspondents’ Programme This scholarship was given to 19 students or young journalism professionals from 19 different countries. Finland is an innovative leader in design and in internet and telecommunications technologies but the nation also has a wealth of unique cultural aspects. While there, we visited various business, governmental, and cultural organizations. The programme allowed me to compare the institutional workings with the cultural values and resulted in a unique experience that complimented my CCT studies. My experience also was augmented by the perspectives of my fellow participants, each of whom had a distinct cultural background.

During my time in Finland, my fellow participants and I had the opportunity to meet the President of the Republic, Ms. Tarja Halonen; former President of Finland and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Mr. Martti Ahtisaari; and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Alexander Stubb. We also attended various cultural lectures and even received beginning Finnish language instruction. While based in Helsinki, the itinerary also included visits to the cities of Turku and Naantali in south-western Finland, as well as to Rovaniemi and Kuusamo in northern Finland. The programme also included several outdoor excursions, like hiking in two National Forests, visiting a reindeer farm in Lapland, and a day with the new military recruits of the Nyland Brigade. I also spent a wonderful weekend with a host family in Tuusula, where I attended a baptism and got a glimpse of Finnish life.

My CCT background helped me easily to transition among the various topics presented. In fact, it was interesting to witness how many Finnish companies and government agencies value interdisciplinary approaches to problem solving. Finland is working to increase interdisciplinary learning opportunities and to create a society that reflects this value. For instance, in January 2010 the Helsinki School of Economics, Helsinki University of Technology, and the University of Art and Design Helsinki are being combined into Aalto University, named for Finnish architect and designer, Alvar Aalto. This new university will allow students to combine educational pursuits across the design, economics, and technology disciplines in the hopes of preparing graduates to use their interdisciplinary backgrounds to address their fields with innovative solutions and varied forms of approach. Sound familiar?

It is still difficult to order and truly grasp everything that I did and saw while I was in Finland. However, I left with a greater appreciation of what I study in CCT and an affinity for a culture that I knew very little about prior to my visit. I hope to integrate Finnish topics and cultural themes into my future studies and research.

Photo and story by Anna Palladino